Digestive Disorders - Glossary N-Z

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nausea - feeling of needing to throw up (vomit).

Nissen fundoplication - Operation to sew the top of the stomach (fundus) around the esophagus; used to stop stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus (reflux) and to repair a hiatal hernia.

nontropical sprue - see celiac disease.

nonulcer dyspepsia - constant pain or discomfort in the upper GI tract.

Norwalk virus - Virus that may cause GI infection and diarrhea. See also gastroenteritis.

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obstruction - blockage in the GI tract that prevents the flow of liquids or solids.

occult bleeding - blood in stool that is not visible to the naked eye.

oral dissolution therapy - method of dissolving cholesterol gallstones.

ostomy - operation that makes it possible for stool to leave the body through an opening made in the abdomen; necessary when part or all of the intestines are removed. Colostomy and ileostomy are types of ostomy.

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pancreas - gland that makes enzymes for digestion and the hormone insulin.

pancreatitis - irritation of the pancreas that can make it stop working; most often caused by gallstones or alcohol abuse.

papillary stenosis - condition in which the openings of the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts narrow.

parietal cells - cells in the stomach wall that make hydrochloric acid.

pepsin - enzyme made in the stomach that breaks down proteins.

peptic - related to the stomach and the duodenum, where pepsin is present.

peptic ulcer - sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum; usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. An ulcer in the stomach is a gastric ulcer; an ulcer in the duodenum is a duodenal ulcer.

percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - x-ray of the gallbladder and bile ducts; a dye is injected through the abdomen to make the organs show up on the x-ray.

perianal - area around the anus.

perineal - related to the perineum.

perineum - area between the anus and the sex organs.

peristalsis - wavelike movement of muscles in the GI tract that moves food and liquid through the GI tract.

peritoneum - lining of the abdominal cavity.

peritonitis - infection of the peritoneum.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome - Inherited condition in which many polyps grow in the intestine.

pharynx - space behind the mouth that serves as a passage for food from the mouth to the esophagus and for air from the nose and mouth to the larynx.

polyp - tissue bulging from the surface of an organ.

polyposis - presence of many polyps.

porphyria - group of rare, inherited blood disorders in which cells fail to change chemicals (porphyrins) to the substance (heme) that gives blood its color.

portal hypertension - high blood pressure in the portal vein that carries blood into the liver caused by a blood clot.

portal vein - large vein that carries blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver.

portosystemic shunt - operation to create an opening between the portal vein and other veins around the liver.

postcholecystectomy syndrome - condition that occurs after gallbladder removal in which the muscle between the gallbladder and the small intestine does not work properly, causing pain, nausea, and indigestion. Also called biliary dyskinesia.

postgastrectomy syndrome - condition that occurs after an operation to remove the stomach (gastrectomy). See also dumping syndrome.

postvagotomy stasis - delayed stomach emptying; occurs after surgery on the vagus nerve.

primary biliary cirrhosis - chronic liver disease; slowly destroys the bile ducts in the liver, which prevents release of bile. Long-term irritation of the liver may cause scarring and cirrhosis in later stages of the disease.

primary sclerosing cholangitis - irritation, scarring, and narrowing of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.

proctalgia fugax - intense pain in the rectum that occasionally happens at night caused by muscle spasms around the anus.

proctectomy - operation to remove the rectum.

proctitis - irritation of the rectum.

proctocolectomy - operation to remove the colon and rectum. Also called coloproctectomy.

proctocolitis - irritation of the colon and rectum.

proctologist - physician who specializes in disorders of the anus and rectum.

proctoscope - short, rigid metal tube used to look into the rectum and anus.

proctoscopy - looking into the rectum and anus with a proctoscope.

proctosigmoiditis - irritation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon.

proctosigmoidoscopy - endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon. See also endoscopy.

prolapse - condition that occurs when a body part slips from its normal position.

proton pump inhibitors - medications that stop the stomach's acid pump.

prune belly syndrome - condition of newborn babies, in which the baby has no abdominal muscles, so the stomach looks like a shriveled prune. Also called Eagle-Barrett syndrome.

pruritus ani - itching around the anus.

pseudomembranous colitis - severe irritation of the colon caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria. Occurs after taking oral antibiotics, which kill bacteria that normally live in the colon.

pyloric sphincter - muscle between the stomach and the small intestine.

pyloric stenosis - narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the small intestine.

pyloroplasty - operation to widen the opening between the stomach and the small intestine to allow contents to pass more freely from the stomach.

pylorus - opening from the stomach into the top of the small intestine (duodenum).

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radiation colitis - damage to the colon from radiation therapy.

radiation enteritis - damage to the small intestine from radiation therapy.

radionuclide scans - tests to find GI bleeding. Also called scintigraphy.

rapid gastric emptying - see dumping syndrome.

rectal manometry - test that uses a thin tube and balloon to measure pressure and movements of the rectal and anal sphincter muscles.

rectal prolapse - condition in which the rectum slips so that it protrudes from the anus.

rectum - lower end of the large intestine, leading to the anus.

reflux - condition that occurs when gastric juices or small amounts of food from the stomach flow back into the esophagus and mouth. Also called regurgitation.

reflux esophagitis - irritation of the esophagus because stomach contents flow back into the esophagus.

regional enteritis - see Crohn's disease.

regurgitation - see reflux.

retching - dry vomiting.

rupture - break or tear in any organ or soft tissue.

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saliva - mixture of water, protein, and salts that makes food easy to swallow and begins digestion.

salmonella - bacterium that may cause intestinal infection and diarrhea. See also gastroenteritis.

sarcoidosis - condition that causes small, fleshy swellings in the liver, lungs, and spleen.

Schatzki's Ring - See lower esophageal ring.

scintigraphy - see radionuclide scans.

sclerotherapy - method of stopping upper GI bleeding. A needle is inserted through an endoscope to bring hardening agents to the place that is bleeding.

secretin - hormone made in the duodenum. Causes the stomach to make pepsin, the liver to make bile, and the pancreas to make a digestive juice.

segmentation - process by which muscles in the intestines move food and wastes through the body.

shigellosis - infection with the bacterium Shigella, usually causing a high fever, acute diarrhea, and dehydration. See also gastroenteritis.

short bowel syndrome - problems related to absorbing nutrients after removal of part of the small intestine. Also called short gut syndrome.

short gut syndrome - see short bowel syndrome.

Shwachman's syndrome - Digestive and respiratory disorder of children in which certain digestive enzymes are missing and white blood cells are few.

sigmoid colon - lower part of the colon that empties into the rectum.

sigmoidoscopy - looking into the sigmoid colon and rectum with a flexible or rigid tube, called a sigmoidoscope.

small bowel enema - x-rays of the small intestine taken as barium liquid passes through the organ. Also called small bowel follow-through. See also lower GI series.

small bowel follow-through - see small bowel enema.

small intestine - organ where most digestion occurs. It measures about 20 feet and includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

somatostatin - hormone in the pancreas that helps tell the body when to make the hormones insulin, glucagon, gastrin, secretin, and renin.

spasms - muscle movements such as those in the colon that cause pain, cramps, and diarrhea.

spastic colon - see irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

sphincter - ring-like band of muscle that opens and closes an opening in the body.

sphincter of Oddi - muscle between the common bile duct and pancreatic ducts.

spleen - organ that cleans blood and makes white blood cells.

splenic flexure syndrome - condition that occurs when air or gas collects in the upper parts of the colon.

steatorrhea - condition in which the body cannot absorb fat.

steatosis - see fatty liver.

stoma - opening in the abdomen that is created by an operation (ostomy). Must be covered at all times by a bag that collects stool.

stomach - organ between the esophagus and the small intestine. The stomach is where digestion of protein begins.

stool - solid wastes that pass through the rectum as bowel movements. Stools are undigested foods, bacteria, mucus, and dead cells. Also called feces.

stress ulcer - upper GI ulcer from physical injury such as surgery, major burns, or critical head injury.

stricture - abnormal narrowing of a body opening. Also called stenosis. See also esophageal stricture and pyloric stenosis.

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tenesmus - straining to have a bowel movement.

tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) - condition that occurs when there is a gap between the upper and lower segments of the esophagus, and food and saliva cannot pass through.

transverse colon - part of the colon that goes across the abdomen from right to left.

traveler's diarrhea - infection caused by unclean food or drink. See also gastroenteritis.

triple-therapy - combination of three medicines used to treat Helicobacter pylori infection and ulcers.

tropical sprue - condition of unknown cause. Abnormalities in the lining of the small intestine prevent the body from absorbing food normally.

tube feeding - see enteral nutrition.

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ulcer - sore on the skin surface or on the stomach lining.

ulcerative colitis - serious disease that causes ulcers and irritation in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. See also inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

upper GI endoscopy - looking into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with an endoscope. See also endoscopy.

upper GI series - x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Also called barium meal.

urea breath test - test used to detect Helicobacter pylori infection. The test measures breath samples for urease, an enzyme H. pylori produces.

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vagotomy - operation to cut the vagus nerve, which causes the stomach to produce less acid.

vagus nerve - nerve in the stomach that controls the production of stomach acid.

valve - fold in the lining of an organ that prevents fluid from flowing backward.

varices - stretched veins such as those that form in the esophagus from cirrhosis.

villi - tiny, fingerlike projections on the surface of the small intestine that help absorb nutrients.

viral hepatitis - hepatitis caused by a virus. Five different viruses (A, B, C, D, and E) most commonly cause this form of hepatitis. Other rare viruses may also cause hepatitis. See hepatitis.

volvulus - twisting of the stomach or large intestine.

vomiting - release of stomach contents through the mouth.

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watermelon stomach - parallel red sores in the stomach that look like the stripes on a watermelon.

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xerostomia - dry mouth condition; can be caused by a number of things, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), drugs used to treat depression, and radiation treatment for mouth or throat cancer.

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Zenker's diverticulum - Pouches in the esophagus from increased pressure in and around the esophagus.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - Group of symptoms that occur when a tumor called a gastrinoma forms in the pancreas.

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